64 AVES ISLAND. 



at the time of the aggression, deducting only that which may remain 

 there when the possession is restored to us. 



We have evidence that since that time numerous vessels have been 

 employed in carrying it off, under the authority of the Venezuelan 

 government, upon payment of what is styled a "royalty," or under 

 some contract with that government. 



We are not hound by any improvident contract or arrangement that 

 Venezuela may have made in this regard as the limit of our damages ; 

 but, on the other hand, she cannot refuse to yield the full amount she 

 has herself thus estimated the guano to be worth to her at the island, 

 aud in addition, such sum as we may prove that it was worth to us. 



She is bound to yield up a.t least the estimated fruits of her contract 

 to the Philadelphia speculators, even though such estimates may not 

 have been realized by their bad faith. 



And again, we contend that in addition to these certain damages, 

 we may justly claim of Venezuela, as indemnification for her tortuous 

 outrage and wrong committed upon our rights and property, all the 

 profits we should have probably made by the shipment and sale of the 

 guano, if they had not molested us. 



And in addition to this, we claim, also, that evenhanded justice 

 demands that they should indemnify us for the embarrassment in our 

 business and to our credit, and the consequent losses we have incurred, 

 which every merchant can understand and appreciate, and which we 

 are prepared to show are of no trifling amount or moment ; not merely 

 has our prosperity been jeoparded, but it is yet uncertain whether it 

 may not result in consequences still more serious ; all the result of her 

 unjustifiable tort. 



Our only hope of redress is in the action of the President and your- 

 self. And we have full confidence in the fulfillment of that pledge he 

 made to the American people on the 4th of March, 1853, that ""the 



RIGHTS WHICH BELONG TO US AS A NATION ARE NOT ALONE TO BE REGARDED, 

 BUT THOSE WHICH PERTAIN TO EVERY CITIZEN IN HIS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, 

 AT HOME AND ABROAD, MUST BE SACREDLY MAINTAINED." * * * " He 

 MUST REALIZE THAT UPON EVERY SEA AND UPON EVERY SOIL WHERE OUR 

 ENTERPRISE MAY RIGHTFULLY SEEK THE PROTECTION OF OUR FLAG, AMERICAN 

 CITIZENSHIP IS AN INVIOLABLE PANOPLY FOR THE SECURITY OF AMERICAN 

 RIGHTS." 



With this we shall be satisfied. 



Boston, June 20, 1855. 

 I, Joshua F. Safford, hereby certify, that on the 13th day of 

 December, 1854, I was master of the bark Carlo Manaran, laying at 

 Aves or Bird Island, in the Caribbean sea, loading guano, shipped by 

 Captain W. N. P. Gribbs, for account of Messrs. Sampson & Tappan 

 and Philo S. Shelton, of Boston. That on the day above named a 

 Venezuelan schooner-of-war, commanded by one Dias, arrived at the 

 island and landed an armed force, and took possession of the island, 



